Getting along in China
Well, despite being in China I have been able to keep track of all the important things. Especially the best basketball team, the Phoenix Suns, making it to the conference finals of the NBA Playoffs!
I have been able to watch a few of games. Sometimes they are not on when an important Ping Pong Event or Badminton Match is on, but I have to remember this is China and not the USA.
There is nothing much more frustrating when you want to watch a Game 7 of the NBA Playoffs with your favorite team and the government controlled sports channel shows the Women's Badminton Doubles live from Malaysia.
There is no local sports bar that I can go to and watch it on cable TV.
I was talking with my roommate and we discussed what it takes to live in China as a westerner and we agreed you must have a lot of patience. For example, if you go to a restaurant and have certain expectations about the service, speed of service, kind of service etc, you could really get upset if you are stubborn about those expectations.
For example, unlike in the states where you might get everything served to you at once, in China the food comes parts at a time. The rice may be the last thing you get. Or the appetizer comes last. It just depends on how busy they are or if the waiter remembers you. Its not uncommon for customers to tell the waiter to get something or bring something a few times. Or maybe you ordered something and they bring something else.
Also I have seen a waitress kill a fly on a table the customers are eating at. The waiters clean the floors during business hours. However, only with a wet mop, not with a bucket and water. So the dirt and grime just gets moved to the side rather than removed completely. When they clean, if you do not move your feet, your shoes might get moped as well. I had to tell the waiter one time to wait till I was done eating before he mops under my table and chair.
Patience does not mean lowering your standards, but rather being understanding and sometimes tolerant that the Chinese are learning. I have seen improvements at businesses and restaurants regarding service and quality, albeit slowly, and it makes me think that international standards are creeping into Chinese society similar to the way they picked up on Western ideas of Christmas and even Mothers Day and Valentines Day. Also in the same way they are making products to meet demands of western consumers, the Chinese are picking up and in and outs of the International business and standards. But it will take time and thus we must be patient.
I have been able to watch a few of games. Sometimes they are not on when an important Ping Pong Event or Badminton Match is on, but I have to remember this is China and not the USA.
There is nothing much more frustrating when you want to watch a Game 7 of the NBA Playoffs with your favorite team and the government controlled sports channel shows the Women's Badminton Doubles live from Malaysia.
There is no local sports bar that I can go to and watch it on cable TV.
I was talking with my roommate and we discussed what it takes to live in China as a westerner and we agreed you must have a lot of patience. For example, if you go to a restaurant and have certain expectations about the service, speed of service, kind of service etc, you could really get upset if you are stubborn about those expectations.
For example, unlike in the states where you might get everything served to you at once, in China the food comes parts at a time. The rice may be the last thing you get. Or the appetizer comes last. It just depends on how busy they are or if the waiter remembers you. Its not uncommon for customers to tell the waiter to get something or bring something a few times. Or maybe you ordered something and they bring something else.
Also I have seen a waitress kill a fly on a table the customers are eating at. The waiters clean the floors during business hours. However, only with a wet mop, not with a bucket and water. So the dirt and grime just gets moved to the side rather than removed completely. When they clean, if you do not move your feet, your shoes might get moped as well. I had to tell the waiter one time to wait till I was done eating before he mops under my table and chair.
Patience does not mean lowering your standards, but rather being understanding and sometimes tolerant that the Chinese are learning. I have seen improvements at businesses and restaurants regarding service and quality, albeit slowly, and it makes me think that international standards are creeping into Chinese society similar to the way they picked up on Western ideas of Christmas and even Mothers Day and Valentines Day. Also in the same way they are making products to meet demands of western consumers, the Chinese are picking up and in and outs of the International business and standards. But it will take time and thus we must be patient.
posted by Mark at
5:48 AM
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